Ice-cutting machine.



G. S. BLAKESLEE.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1904.

Patented 0ct.27,1908.

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ICE CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY'20,1904.

902,200. Patent ed 0011.27, 1908.

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PATENT orrion.

GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 27, 1903.

Application filed July 20, 190%. Serial No. 217,422.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the count I of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for cut ting ice, and hasfor its object to provide a new and improved machine for cutting masses of ice into the form of small cubes.

It consists of a suitable stand or frame adapted to support the working parts of the machine, upon which is mounted mechanism by which the block of ice is first scored to a depth equal to or greater than one dimension of the cubes to be cut,the scoring being checkered in design. The frame also is provided with tables on different levels for supporting the ice, and carries means for cutting the block in a plane parallel with the surface scored, so that the several blocks are cubical in form. Thus a large number of cubes may be produced in a very short space of time and by very few operations.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure l is a side elevation of my improved ma chine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective dctail; Fig. 3 is a sectionon line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view, illustrating the design of the scorings.

Referring to the drawings,6 indicates a stand, which may be of any suitable construction but is preferably made of iron or steel. It is provided with upper and lower tables 7 -8, respectively, upon which the mass of ice to be cut is adapted to rest during different stages of the operation.

9 indicates the inner wall of the table 8, against which the ice-is adapted to bear when it rests on the table 8.

10 indicates a shaft, which is mounted in suitable hearings in the frame 6 and in a bearing-block 11 which depends from the table 7, as shown in Fig. 5.

12 indicates a. series of circular saws which are mounted upon and keyed to the shaft 10. The saws 12 are set equally distant apart, being held in the proper relative position by sleeves 13 mounted on the shaft 10, as shown.

1% indicates a saw, somewhat greater in a plan view; Fig. 5 is a cross.

" diameter than the saws 12, which is fitted mounted on a stud 17 which projects from one side of the frame. The crank 16 is connected with a gear-wheel 18, which meshes with a pinion 19 mounted on the shaft 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

20 indicates a balance-wheel mounted on the shaft 10. By this construction the saws 12 may be rotated simultaneously and at a high rate of speed.

21 indicates the vertical portion, and 22-23 upper and lower horizontal portions of the front member of a traveling-frame which is arranged to move longitudinally of the tables 7-8. The upper horizontal portion 22 lies over the table 7 The lower portion 23 extends over the table 8, while the vertical portion 21 extends down parallel with and adjacent to the outer face of the saw 14:. Similarly. 24 indicates the vertical portion and 2526 the upper and lower horizontal portions, respectively, of the rear member of said traveling-frame. The parts 2326 are connected by a member 27, which is parallel with and adjacent to one of the sides of the machine-frame, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

28 indicates rollers, which support the portions 23-26 and run on the table 8. The upper portions 22-25 of the travel1ngframe are connected by standards 293O (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5) with a slide-block 31, which moves in a suitable groove provided near the inner edgeof the table 7 as bestshown in Figs. 2 and 3. By this construction the traveling-frame is made to move longitudinally of the machine-frame, and is held properly in posit-ion.

32 indicates a handle, which is connected to the rear member of the traveling-frame,- that is to say, the member which liesat-the left, as shown in Fig. 4. The handle 32 carries a hook 33 adapted to engage a catch34 Fig. 1. By raising the handle 32, the hook 33 may be disengaged, setting the traveling frame free. 1

ate the saws 12-14E by means of a crank 16.

secured to the machineeframe, as shown in 35 indicates a shield, which extends ovr the handle 32- and moves with the travelingframe. j

36 indicates a counterbalanceweight, which is connected by a chain 37 or other flexible connection, to the front member of the traveling-frame, working over a pulley 38 secured to the machine-frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The weight 36 operates to carry the ice against the saws. It is drawn back by hand. Fig. 5, the saws 12 project up through the table 7 ,suitable slots being provided where necessary for that purpose. The saw 14. also projects up beyond the surface of the table 7 and, as shown in Fig. 4, it is set away from the wall 9 a distance equal to the space between consecutive saws.

In use a block of ice is placed on the table 7 in front of the rear member of the traveling-frame. The traveling-frame is then released by raising the handle 32, allowing the counterbalance-weight to move the block of me against the saws, which score it on the under side along parallel lines. It will be understood that the saws project above the table 7 a distance equal at least to one dimension of' the cubes to be cut. After the first scoring, the block of ice is turned at right angles to its former position and is then again moved against the saws which score'it again, in lines at right angles to the former scormg. The block of ice is then turned on edge and placed on the table 8 between the members of the travelingframe and its scored surface is pressed closely against the wall 9. The ice is secured in this position by means of achain 39, the ends of which are secured to the traveling-frame in such mannerthat one end is readily detachable. The chain 39 is adapted to embrace the ice and hold it firmly against the wall 9. A spring 40 1s provided, either at one end of the chain 39 or at some intermediate point thereof, to

provide for accommodating blocks of ice of different sizes. ,The block of ice turned on edge, as described, is then moved against the saw l4,the greater portion of which lies above the table 8,and by the action of said saw the scored portion of the mass of ice is cut in a plane parallel with the scored surface,thereby severing cubes of ice from the mass. As the cubes are severed, they drop down through a slot 41 provided in the table 8 for that-purpose, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and are received in a pan, or other receptacle, 4:2, placed to interceptthem. The pan 42 is preferably supported on cross-bars fi3 secured to the machine-frame, as shown in Fi 5. The design of the scorings is illustrate in Fig. 6,the final cutting being indicated by dotted lines A-B.

By arranging the saw 14 in the manner described, and providing tables 7-8 on different levels, I am enabled to utilize said saw As best shown in.

both for scoring and for cutting, and the cutting may be of the full width of the surface scored, thereby facilitating, as well as expediting, the work.

It will be understood, of course, that the term cube asherein employed, is used in a generic sense and is not to be restricted to its mathematical sense, since, obviously, it is not essential to my invention that the masses of ice produced be true cubes. The changes necessary to produce blocks of other forms having plane surfaces will readily suggest themselves to any skilled mechanic familiar with the art, and my invention is, therefore, not to be restricted to a machine adjusted to produce cubes alone.

It should be understood, also, that while I have described my improved machine in detail, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, my invention is not restricted to such, details of construction, except in so far as they are particularly claimed, but includes the generic invention set forth in the broader claims.

That which I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is, v 1. A machine for'cutting cubical bloc-ks, comprising a plurality of parallel scoringsaws, a severing-saw parallel with said scoring-saws, a table for supporting the material while being scored, and a table on a different level for supporting the material while being severed into blocks, said severing-saw projecting over the latter table.

2. A machine for cutting cubical blocks", comprising a drive-shaft, a plurality of parallel scoring-saws mounted on said shaft, a severing-saw parallel with said scoring-saws and mounted on said shaft, a table for supporting thematerial while being scored, and a table on a diflerent level for supporting the material while being severed into blocks said severing saw extending above the latter table to engage the material thereon.

3. A machine for cutting cubical blocks, comprising a plurality of parallel scoringsaws, a severing-saw parallel with said scoring-saws and of greater diameter, a table for supporting the material while being scored, and a table on a different level for supporting the material while being severed into blocks said severing saw extending above the latter table to engage the material thereon.

4, A machine for cutting cubical blocks, comprising a plurality of parallel scoringsaws, a severing-saw parallel with said scoringsaws, a scoring table above the axis of said scoring-"saws, and a cutting table below the axis of said severing-saw.

5. Amachiiie for cutting "cubical blocks, comprising a plurality of parallel scoring saws, a severing saw parallel with said scorlng saws, a shaft on which said saws are mounted, a table for supporting thematerial while being scored, and a table on a lower level for supporting the material while being severed into blocks, said severing saw extending above the latter table to engage the material thereon.

6. A machine for cutting cubical blocks comprising a plurality of parallel scoringsaws, a severing-saw parallel with said scoring-saws, a table for supportingthe material while being scored, a table on a difi'erent level for supporting the material while being severed into blocks, and a frame traveling on both ofsaid tables for feeding the material to said saws.

7. A machine for cutting cubical blocks, comprising a plurality of parallel scoringsaws, a severing-saw. parallel withsaid scoring-saws, a table for supporting the material while being scored, a table on a different level for supporting the material While he mg severed into blocks, a frame traveling on both of said tables for feeding the material to said saws, and counterbalance mechanism for moving said frame in one direction.

8. A machine for cuttlng cublcal blocks,

comprising a plurality of parallel scoring saws, a severing saw parallel with said scor- 9. A machine for cutting cubicalblocks,

comprising a scoring table on which the material to be cut is adapted to rest, a plurality of scoringsaws projecting above said table i for scoring the under surface of the material, a severing table on a different level from said scoring table, and a severing saw parallel with said scoring saws and adapted to cut said material in a plane substantially parallel with the surface scored.

-GEORGE S. BLAKE SLEE.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JACKSON, I CHARLES E. PICKARD. 

